PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gerry Garza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Palaktingpuet Payakarakatong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Garza
vs
Payakarakatong

196 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

161 cm
19
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gerry Garza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Palaktingpuet Payakarakatong!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Francis DeMontford and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garza will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Payakarakatong appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Garza throws a head kick that misses
and Payakarakatong counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Garza takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Payakarakatong tries to close the distance and clinch but Garza swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Payakarakatong has managed to clinch.

Payakarakatong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Payakarakatong instigates a clinch.
Garza has Payakarakatong pushed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Payakarakatong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Garza throws a leg kick but Payakarakatong checks it.
Garza tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A nice side step and Payakarakatong releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

Garza fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Payakarakatong, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garza on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Payakarakatong tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Garza avoids it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Stalling in the clinch from Payakarakatong.
Payakarakatong tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Payakarakatong obliges.
Payakarakatong is looking to control Garza's arms but Garza gets an underhook and turns him. Now Payakarakatong has his back to the cage.
Payakarakatong tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Garza avoids it.
Payakarakatong tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Payakarakatong manages to pull guard.
Garza will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Garza content to stall in guard here.
Garza has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payakarakatong trying to control the position.
Garza is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Garza working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Payakarakatong's head.
Payakarakatong wants to stand up but Garza is controlling him.

Garza gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Payakarakatong misses with a wild body shot.
A head kick misses from Garza.
Payakarakatong wants to counter with a clinch but Garza pushes him away.
Payakarakatong tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Garza manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Payakarakatong tries to clinch but Garza is having none of it.
Garza is looking for a counter combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Garza moves into the clinch successfully.
Garza is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Garza is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Payakarakatong pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Garza goes for a takedown in the clinch but Payakarakatong prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerry Garza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Payakarakatong crunches a lovely knee into Garza's ribcage.
Garza is breathing heavily.
Garza tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Payakarakatong trying to land knees to the body.
Garza goes for a takedown in the clinch but Payakarakatong prevents it.
Garza really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Payakarakatong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Payakarakatong throws a sloppy body shot

and Garza counters with a takedown into side control.
Payakarakatong is trying to improve his position.
Garza looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Payakarakatong is avoiding damage well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payakarakatong can't do much from the bottom here.
Payakarakatong is trying to improve his position.
Garza lands a few punches from side control.

Garza tries for a kimura but Payakarakatong is defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The ground and pound from Garza seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Payakarakatong is being controlled here.
Garza works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Payakarakatong is not content to let Garza control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Palaktingpuet Payakarakatong dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Garza tries to score with a low kick but Payakarakatong moves his leg out of the way.

Garza manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Payakarakatong on his heels. He'll look to pass Payakarakatong's guard now, I'm sure.
Garza trying to control the position from guard on top but Payakarakatong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Payakarakatong looking for a sweep. Not yet Payakarakatong, not yet.
Payakarakatong is trying to control the position but Garza postures up.
Garza has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Garza is stalling in the full guard.

Payakarakatong is working an open guard so Garza takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Payakarakatong throws a head kick but Garza moves out of range.
Garza appears to be looking for a big counter.
Payakarakatong throws a hook but Garza avoids it easily.
Garza lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Garza shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Payakarakatong as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garza shoots for a takedown but Payakarakatong saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Payakarakatong darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Garza manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Payakarakatong keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Payakarakatong manages to break the clinch.
Payakarakatong blocks a head kick by Garza.
Payakarakatong is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

Payakarakatong shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Payakarakatong decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payakarakatong throws a nice head kick!
Payakarakatong closes the distance looking to clinch

and Garza counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Payakarakatong is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Garza is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Garza is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Payakarakatong is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The referee asks Garza politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Garza prefers to stall for the moment though.
Garza throws an elbow but Payakarakatong slips to the side and avoids it well.
Payakarakatong holding on.
Garza lands a few punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garza lands some shots froms side control.
Payakarakatong is being controlled here.
Garza's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Payakarakatong dodges the ground and pound from Garza.
Payakarakatong on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Gerry Garza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Garza trying to control the position but Payakarakatong is working away.
Payakarakatong is looking to reverse the position.

Garza wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Payakarakatong, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Garza in side control lands a decent elbow.

Garza wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Payakarakatong, who protects the arm well.
Payakarakatong manages to get back to half guard.
Payakarakatong really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Garza. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Garza is controlling the pace.
Payakarakatong wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerry Garza dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Garza rushes Payakarakatong and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Payakarakatong wants to stall.

Garza lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Payakarakatong blocking the ground and pound attempt from Garza.

Garza is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Garza is just content to waste time from the top position. Payakarakatong takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Payakarakatong is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Garza trying to control the position from guard on top but Payakarakatong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Payakarakatong wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payakarakatong takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Garza is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Garza trying to control the position from guard on top but Payakarakatong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Payakarakatong fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Garza, pushing him back against the cage.
Garza looking for a takedown.

Payakarakatong breaks from the clinch.
Payakarakatong has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Payakarakatong there as he acknowledges the shot.
Payakarakatong lands a nice shot to the body.

Payakarakatong gets caught flat footed, as Garza shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Garza is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Garza drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Payakarakatong dives on top into guard.

Garza trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payakarakatong won't allow Garza to sweep him here.
Payakarakatong slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Garza looking to control.
Payakarakatong trying to control the position from guard on top but Garza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Garza is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Payakarakatong trying to control but Garza is working from the bottom.

Garza is looking for a triangle but Payakarakatong pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Payakarakatong wants to stand but Garza is controlling his posture from full guard.

Payakarakatong got a little sloppy there for a moment and Garza has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Payakarakatong has managed to get both his arms back between Garza's legs - danger averted.
Garza trying to keep a closed guard but Payakarakatong is proving a slippery customer.
Payakarakatong trying to control the position from guard on top but Garza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Payakarakatong instigates a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Payakarakatong landing knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Palaktingpuet Payakarakatong.
I think Payakarakatong has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 28:29
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Palaktingpuet Payakarakatong!